Every child needs support to achieve their potential but some children require extra help along the way. Early Intervention is about getting additional, timely and effective support to children who need it – enabling them to flourish and preventing costly, long-term and damaging outcomes.

The EIF is the government’s What Works Centre in England on Early Intervention, providing evidence to Government, Local Councils and charities about what works, what doesn’t work and what is promising practice in relation to Early Intervention. We have a unique role in sharing Early Intervention research with policy-makers to help them invest in services that deliver the best outcomes for citizens and value for money for taxpayers.

We work with a wide range of stakeholders providing advice and guidance on how to provide effective early intervention for children and families. To find out more about the EIF visit our website.

The post is an opportunity to contribute to an organisation close to the heart of policy-making across England. You will be an exceptional and committed individual looking for an opportunity to learn about policy and practice and support the improvement of outcomes for children, young people and families through the rigorous use of evidence.

Our Research Officers play a significant role in making this happen, through reviewing evidence on what works and developing resources to support the translation of this information to commissioners and practitioners.

Scope and objectives

The Research Officer will contribute to What Works Reviews. They will provide skilled review of programmes and interventions for the EIF Guidebook. This will involve reading papers and assessing the evidence for specific programmes and practices in relation to the EIF standards of evidence. This works requires an aptitude and interest in engaging with material with a high technical content, including reports of research using a range of evaluation designs and employing a range of statistical techniques.

They will also work with colleagues and external partners in wider research activity using a variety of social research methods, including surveys, interviews and focus groups.

They will support the translation of the work of the evidence team by working with the Head of Communications and others to develop policy briefings, outputs for commissioners, helping to set up policy seminars/evidence events, and providing assistance on slideshows and presentations.

Specific responsibilities for role on what works assessment

To review evidence to assess what is known about what works in the field of Early Intervention to provide briefings and one pagers for the Early Intervention Guidebook.

To undertake a degree of ad hoc policy and advocacy work as required by business need.

To provide occasional administrative support, subject to business need, such as maintaining databases, collating documentation and planning meetings.

To provide support to the Evidence Panel, providing briefings and information to ensure smooth running of the Panel, to support them to assess the evidence and make recommendations for promising investments.

To support communication to experts and organisations in the Evidence sector.

Person Specifications

Essential characteristics

Knowledge and experience of evaluation methodologies and techniques

Confidence in reviewing the rigour of highly technical evaluation literature

An ability to produce documents with high technical content, including accurate reporting methodological and statistical information.

Excellent project management skill;

Strong drafting skills and experience of writing research and advocacy papers to a high standard.

Ability to research information from a variety of sources in a rigorous and robust way;

Experience and interest in communicating research to a variety of audiences, having excellent written and verbal communication skills

Strong team working ethos, willing to support others and ‘muck in’ as needed

Self-motivated, flexible and able to work on own initiative

First degree in social science, social policy, public health, health services or other relevant field, with a significant quantitative component.

Desirable characteristics

Knowledge and understanding of intervention and prevention science

Knowledge of services for children and their families across all sectors

Master’s degree in social science, public health, health services or other relevant field;

At least 1 year experience of carrying out qualitative research methods, including both research design and data analysis.

Experience of commissioning and managing research and analysis from external contractors.